Operators of Time Warner Cable Arena are working now on a water reclamation project to capture rainfall for use at the building.

Jeff Mann, assistant general manager at Time Warner Cable Arena, says the system could potentially collect nearly 2.5 million gallons of water for use in other areas of the arena.

The sports and entertainment venue uses about 16 million gallons of water every year. Mann says arena operators are working on a 96,000-square-foot section of the arena roof to collect rainwater. Current calculations project the arena could save $7,352 in water and nearly $8,155 in sewer costs for a total annual savings of $15,507 this fiscal year.

Arena operators have started several other sustainable upgrades. For example, the arena converted nearly 700 lights to LED to save electricity costs.

About 80% of the chemicals used in arena housekeeping are “green products” that are less toxic.

Mann says arena operators also found ways to save money by speeding up the building’s loading dock doors.

New high-speed doors that open and close in four seconds, as well as heat curtains, have cut HVAC use.

“We’re already seeing some dividends from that,” Mann says.

The Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority is leading the project, which is being tackled in collaboration with the Charlotte Bobcats and the city of Charlotte.

CRVA spokeswoman Laura Hill says the groups are still signing financing for the rainfall-harvesting project. Once that’s inked, work could be completed in six to eight weeks. The rain collected may provide up to two-thirds of the water needed to heat and cool the building, Hill says.